Four Palaces

The Four Palaces (Tứ Phủ) is the most significant form of Đạo Mẫu, a worship of Mother Goddesses in Vietnam. This form is popular in the Northern and have a profound association with the worship of Đức Thánh Trần.

Its name literally means "Four Palaces" as its deities are believed to reside in four palaces, each of which serves as a ministry governing one realm of the universe.

There are four realms: Heaven, Mountains, Water and Earth. The palaces governing those realms are named as follow:

  • Thiên phủ (Heavenly Palace), ruled by Mother Goddess of Heaven (Mẫu Thượng Thiên)
  • Nhạc phủ (Mountains’ Palace), ruled by Mother Goddess of Highlands (Mẫu Thượng Ngàn), also known as Mother Goddess of Forest Residence (Lâm Cung Thánh Mẫu)
  • Thoải phủ (Watery Palace) ruled by Mother Goddess of Water (Mẫu Thoải), also known as Mother Goddess of Water Residence (Thủy Cung Thánh Mẫu).
  • Địa phủ (Earthy Palace) ruled by Mother Goddess of Earth (Mẫu Địa Phủ), also known as Mother Goddess of Earth Residence (Lục Cung Thánh Mẫu).

The Pantheon of Four Palaces

The pantheon of Four Palaces includes the following ranks. While the hierarchy and names of the ranks are widely recognized and agreed upon, each rank might have some variations which include a different number of deities or a deity could have various stories and biographies. The belief is that a deity could manifest in various historic figures.

For the ranks with many variations, the first three or four figures are usually widely recognized and venerated, with the first position of Heaven, the second of High Mountains, the third of Water and the fourth as an Imperial Commissioner. The deities after the third or fourth position may have different names, titles and stories.

Rank of Mother Goddesses (Thánh Mẫu)

First Mother Goddess of Heaven (Mẫu Đệ Nhất Thượng Thiên)

The common short title is First Mother Goddess (Mẫu Đệ Nhất). Since she resides in the far-away Heavenly Palace, it’s believed that she authorized Mother Goddess Liễu Hạnh, who is the Mother Goddess of Earth herself, to present her on Earth. Therefore, people are familiar with the concept of the Trinity of Mother Goddesses even though there are four Mother Goddesses of Four Palaces.

Mother Goddess of Mountains (Mẫu Thượng Ngàn)

Third Mother Goddess of Watery Palace (Mẫu Đệ Tam Thoải Phủ)

The common short title is Water Mother Goddess (Mẫu Thoải).

Mother Goddess of Earth (Mẫu Địa)

Rank of Grand Mandarins (Hàng Quan Lớn)

This rank is usually referred to as the Five Honored Commanders (Ngũ Vị Tôn Quan). There is also another less common form of Ten Honored Commanders (Thập Vị Tôn Quan), where the multiple of the number 5 appears.[1]

First Grand Mandarin of Heaven (Quan Lớn Đệ Nhất Thượng Thiên)

His full title is the First Crown Prince and Princely Mandarin of Heaven (Đệ Nhất Thượng Thiên Hoàng Thái Tử Vương Quan)

Second Grand Mandarin of Mountains, the Supervisor (Quan Lớn Đệ Nhị Thượng Ngàn Giám Sát)

His full title is the Second Supervising Mandarin of Mountains (Đệ Nhị Thượng Ngàn Giám Sát). His other common title is the Supervising Mandarin (Quan Giám Sát).

Third Grand Mandarin of Watery Palace (Quan Lớn Đệ Tam Thoải Phủ)

His full title is the Third Crown Prince and Princely Mandarin of Watery Palace (Đệ Tam Thoải Phủ Hoàng Thái Tử Vương Quan).

Fourth Grand Mandarin, the Imperial Commissioner (Quan Lớn Đệ Tứ Khâm Sai)

His full title is the Fourth Imperial Commissioner of the Four Palaces (Đệ Tứ Khâm Sai Quyền Cai Tứ Phủ). His other common title is the Imperial Commissioner Mandarin (Quan Khâm Sai).

Fifth Grand Mandarin of Tuần Tranh (Quan Lớn Đệ Ngũ Tuần Tranh)

His full title is The Fifth Grand Mandarin of Tranh River, the Inspector (Quan Lớn Đệ Ngũ Tuần Tranh)

Rank of Court Dames of the Four Palaces (Hàng Tứ Phủ Chầu Bà)

Most of the devotees of Four Palaces refer to this rank as the Twelve Ladies. However, they still recognize other local Ladies who are not listed here as a deity of this rank.

First Court Dame of Heaven (Chầu Bà Đệ Nhất Thượng Thiên)

Second Court Dame of High Mountains (Chầu Bà Đệ Nhị Thượng Ngàn)

Third Court Dame of Watery Palace (Chầu Bà Đệ Tam Thoải Phủ)

Fourth Court Dame, the Imperial Commissioner (Chầu Bà Đệ Tứ Khâm Sai)

Fifth Court Dame of Suối Lân (Chầu Bà Đệ Ngũ Suối Lân)

Sixth Court Dame of Earth Residence (Chầu Lục Cung Nương)

Seventh Court Dame of Kim Giao (Chầu Bảy Kim Giao)

Eighth Court Dame of Bát Nàn (Chầu Tám Bát Nàn)

Ninth Court Dame of Mount Sòng (Chầu Chín Sòng Sơn)

Tenth Court Dame of Đồng Mỏ (Chầu Mười Đồng Mỏ)

Little Court Dame of Bắc Lệ (Chầu Bé Bắc Lệ)

Court Dame of Shrine (Chầu Bà Bổn Đền)

Rank of Princes of Four Palaces (Hàng Ông Hoàng)

This rank is usually referred to as the Ten of Princes.

First Prince of Heaven (Ông Hoàng Cả Thượng Thiên)

Second Prince, the Imperial Commissioner (Ông Hoàng Đôi Khâm Sai)

Third Prince of Water (Ông Hoàng Bơ Thoải)

Fourth Prince (Ông Hoàng Tư)

Fifth Prince (Ông Hoàng Năm)

Sixth Prince (Ông Hoàng Sáu)

Seventh Prince of Bảo Hà (Ông Hoàng Bảy Bảo Hà)

Eighth Prince (Ông Hoàng Tám)

Ninth Prince (Ông Hoàng Chín)

Tenth Prince of Nghệ An (Ông Hoàng Mười Nghệ An)

Rank of Saintly Maidens of Four Palaces (Hàng Tứ Phủ Thánh Cô)

It is widely recognized that there are twelve Maidens in this rank. Similar to the rank of Ladies, other Maidens from various towns are also considered to belong to this rank.

First Maiden of Heaven (Cô Đệ Nhất Thượng Thiên)

Second Maiden of Highlands (Cô Đôi Thượng Ngàn)

Third Maiden of Water (Cô Bơ Thoải)

Fourth Maiden of Tứ Tổng Village and West Lake (Cô Tư Tứ Tổng Tây Hồ)

Note: She is not the same with the Fourth Maiden of Ỷ La who is one of the twelve Saintly Maidens of Mountains and Forests.

Fifth Maiden of Suối Lân (Cô Năm Suối Lân)

Sixth Maiden of Mountainous Village (Cô Sáu Sơn Trang)

Seventh Maiden of Kim Giao (Cô Bảy Kim Giao)

Eighth Maiden of Tea Hills (Cô Tám Đồi Chè)

Ninth Maiden of Sòng Sơn (Cô Chín Sòng Sơn)

Tenth Maiden of Đồng Mỏ (Cô Mười Đồng Mỏ)

Little Maiden of Water (Cô Bé Thoải)

Local Maidens

Each region usually has its own young female deity/deities. These deities are grouped together as "The Local Maidens". One would be named "The Little Maiden of [the Region]".

Rank of Saintly Pages of Four Palaces (Hàng Tứ Phủ Thánh Cậu)

The rank of Saintly Pages usually include twelve Pages. However, unlike the other deities of previous ranks, there is no specific stories or titles for the Pages. Because they usually serve one of the ten Princes, a Page's title might include the title of the Prince he serves. For example, the Page who serves the Third Prince could be referred to as the Third Page.

Rank of Five Tigers (Ngũ Hổ) and Misters Lốt (Ông Lốt)

References
  1. Ngô, Đức-Thịnh (2009). Đạo Mẫu Việt Nam. Book 1. Vietnam: Nhà xuất bản Tôn Giáo. p. 65.
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